Inflammation and Host Response in Predicting Lymph Node Involvement and Metastasis in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background: Role of inflammation in the tumour microenvironment has now been widely accepted, and many studies have linked as much as 20% of cancers to chronic infections. In the oral cavity, the junction of hard and soft tissues is very prone to infection and acts as an ecological niche to micro-organisms. Periodontal disease or periodontitis is a unique inflammation which is persistently present in the oral cavity and, hence, its association with oral cancer becomes mandatory to study. The disease progression depends on a complex interaction between the tumor and the host's inflammatory response. Hence, as an adjunct to malignant cells behaviour, predicting host response in terms of blood vessels and lymphocytes density is gaining ground these days. Methods: Three groups of patients will be studied. First group, comprising individuals with a history of tobacco chewing of more than 3 years but without developing any lesion. Second group will contain individuals with a history of tobacco chewing manifesting with the development of precancerous conditions. And the third group, with the individuals who chew tobacco and have developed oral cancer. Oral hygiene status and the periodontal condition as local infection factors will be correlated with those of systemic inflammatory indicators, including C-reactive protein and ESR, among the three groups. Hypothesis: The association between local and systemic factors will help us to understand whether it plays any significant role in the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma among patients of the same age and sex. Keywords: Inflammation, Host Response, Lymph Node Involvement, Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma